The Economist.
Hello and welcome to the Intelligence from the Economist.
I'm your host, Jason Palmer.
Every weekday we provide a fresh perspective on the events shaping your world.
It's time for our annual Democracy Index,
a ranking of which countries best protect democratic rights and institutions.
On the whole, the news isn't great,
but we look at one pattern
in the data that counterintuitively suggests a route to democratic health.
And you may have heard
that ice cold showers or dunks in freezing water are supposed to be good for you.
Personally, you couldn't pay me enough.
But in the interests of science, our correspondent gives it a go.
First up, though.
In some ways,
Jane Austen's Pride
and Prejudice depicts a bygone time when the surest route to riches was not by working hard,
but by marrying heirs to great fortunes.
That is Mr. Darcy.
He looks miserable, poor soul.